The Miami Heat are no strangers to being linked to superstars, but a huge splash isn’t the only way to improve a roster.
According to a report, the Heat have prioritized pursuits of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant on their wish list, but they also have a fallback option in mind: Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
“Miami has prioritized pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo (if he became available this summer) and Durant (whom they’re actively trying to acquire) on their wish list ahead of Kuminga, who’s viewed as a fallback option to the two superstars,” wrote Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Antetokounmpo may very well end up staying put with the Bucks, and the Heat are nowhere near guaranteed to land Durant, so a name like Kuminga could be one to watch this summer for Miami.
Kuminga, a former lottery pick who’s eligible for restricted free agency this summer, just had a very interesting season with the Warriors. His place in Golden State’s rotation varied, but he had some huge playoff performances, including three straight showings with at least 23 points in his team’s final three playoff games. He even had a 30-point game mixed in there.
He finished the regular season averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from deep.
Kuminga’s career has had its ups and downs, but he did win a title with the Warriors as a rookie, and there’s plenty of time for him to grow into more of his potential. He’s still just 22 years old.
Of course, if the Heat are looking to alter their place in the championship race going into next season, a deal with Kuminga probably wouldn’t significantly change their outlook, but he could become a long-term piece for them.
A trade for someone like Antetokounmpo or Durant would give Miami a more immediate shot in the arm in terms of contention, but it’s unclear how likely those options are to come to fruition. There’s no doubt that the franchise is looking to improve after it finished below .500 this season and was embarrassed in the playoffs.
For now, the Heat have some options to explore, and fans should be ready for a variety of outcomes this offseason.